Mats Patents (Class 15/215)
  • Patent number: 5297309
    Abstract: The device for disinfecting parts of persons, animals and objects passing over it and coming into contact with it and the ground, especially the soles of shoes, includes a doormat provided with a rectangular aperture; a shallow flat-bottomed rectangular tray having a bottom and vertical sides made from metal and shaped to form a channel having a C-shaped transverse cross-section opening outwards, the flat-bottomed tray being dimensioned so that the tray can fit in the aperture with edge portions of the door mat engaged in the channel; a sheet of rectangular spongy material which fits in the shallow flat-bottomed rectangular tray; a portion of a disinfecting liquid impregnating the sheet of spongy material; and an elastic grating resting freely on the sheet of spongy material and having an elasticity so that, when depressed by the parts of the persons, animals and objects the grating flexes sufficiently to compress the sheet of the spongy material sufficiently to force disinfecting liquid residing in the spong
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Inventor: Antonio Rotoli
  • Patent number: 5293660
    Abstract: A foot scrub mat which includes a flexible base and a replaceable pad. The flexible base and the replaceable pad are preferably made of an antislip material. The base has an interior cut-out area of selected dimensions. The replaceable pad has a bristled area which has the general dimensions of the cut-out area and which is exposed when the pad is aligned beneath the cut-out area. Preferably the replaceable pad has an exterior rim which lies under the base when the pad is placed beneath and aligned with the cut-out area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Inventor: Jai H. Park
  • Patent number: 5270089
    Abstract: This invention is an fluid absorbing means wherein an integral grid of inverted, semi-conical projections or fingers with rounded upper ends is provided. This grid can be walked on while preventing oil or other liquids which are dripped, spilled or otherwise deposited thereon from coming into contact with the soles of the user's shoes. Openings are provided at the juncture of the inverted, semi-conical fingers so that the contaminating fluid can pass therethrough onto an absorbing mat disposed thereto. This absorbing mat can be formed from cotton fiber, polymer material, polyethylene sponge, cellulose fiber or other suitable material or a combination thereof. A housing means completely surrounds the grid and its underlying absorbing material and includes an integral bottom to contain the contaminating fluids should the absorbing material become saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Inventors: Timothy E. Alston, Eric E. Alston
  • Patent number: 5243804
    Abstract: A grating-like floor comprises a plurality of slats each having a flat upper surface and a longitudinally extending substantially perpendicular bottom projection. The bottom projection may be barbed and have grooves provided in the projection of the plurality of slats where they intersect in a transverse fashion, such that a series of upright slats plug into at least two slats turned upside down in order to form the floor. Except for the grooves, the same slat is used for forming the floor surface and for forming a base of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignees: Jean-Francois Clement, Francois Briere
    Inventors: Martial Therrien, Rejean Rheaume
  • Patent number: 5236753
    Abstract: A floor mat for use in covering the floor of a motor vehicle comprises a corrugated layer having first and second opposing surfaces and a single face layer affixed to one of the surfaces of the corrugated layer so that the corrugated layer may be rolled up in a direction enclosing the face layer within the corrugated layer. Preferably, at least one tear line is provided for permitting the floor mat to be split into first and second mat portions which may be separately rolled up and removed from the vehicle after use. The first and second mat portions are each adapted to underlie a separate passenger area of the motor vehicle in order to protect the floor of the vehicle from being dirtied during use. In another embodiment, a generally trapezoidally-shaped universal floor mat is provided which can alternately be placed on the floor beneath the front driver's or front passenger's side of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Lawrence Paper Company
    Inventors: Joseph W. Gaggero, Michael W. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 5236241
    Abstract: This invention relates to a floor mat for automobile vehicle, avoiding wear of the driver's shoes during the driving operations.The floor mat is composed of a frame and a grid arrangement formed by segments defining openings therebetween. The face of the floor mat turned towards the floor of the vehicle has no bottom. The upper edge of the segments is preferably provided with bristles forming a brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Inventor: Michele S. G. Courrege
  • Patent number: 5215348
    Abstract: A foot pad structure on a rug in an automobile, of which the prime features are that the part to be pedalled on the foot pad has rectangular hole, and a base plate being fixed under the rectangular hole; the base plate has several slots arranged in parallel, in which a corresponding number of Velcro strips or two-side adhesive tapes are to be mounted. There is a detachable pedal piece, of which the front side is to be pedalled by a driver, while the back side thereof is fixedly attached with a plurality of Velcro strips corresponding in number and position to the slots in the aforesaid base plate; by means of such a structure, the pedal piece can directly be fastened together as one piece with the base plate of the foot pad in an automobile. Whenever the pedal piece becomes worn and torn, it can be replaced with a new one without replacing the whole foot pad at a higher cost so as to improve the drawbacks of the conventional foot pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Formosa Saint Jose Corporation
    Inventor: Yang Wen-Hwang
  • Mat
    Patent number: 5215802
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mat comprising a plurality of elongated rails arranged parallel to one another and each having a receiving portion adapted to receive a tread member. The rails are coupled by way of first and second connecting elements, preferably consisting of T-shaped members and U-shaped members, by insertion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Koninklijke Tufton B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes C. Kaars Sijpesteijn
  • Patent number: 5205092
    Abstract: A threshold mat comprising alternating scraper units and wiper units. The improvement is that the wipers, that is strips of carpeting are carried on extrusion carriers and are gripped by their edges via a tightenable clamp incorporated in the scraper unit. The feature of tightening enables different thicknesses of carpet material to be accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: PSA Threshold Limited
    Inventor: Brian J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5190799
    Abstract: A floor mat (10) is provided which includes longitudinal rail sections (e.g., 16, 17) capable of being interconnected with other longitudinal rails to form a roll up floor mat or pedestrian walking surface. The rails include a plastic cushion layer (21) which can be coextruded onto the upwardly facing surface of an underlying rigid plastic rail core (8), with the cushion layer being softer than the rail core and forming an integral walking surface thereon. At least one living hinge (23) may be employed within the rail section for pivotal movement of the rail, allowing the floor mat to be rolled up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Reese Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Chester W. Ellingson, III
  • Patent number: 5170526
    Abstract: A cleated dust control mat having a plurality of rows of elliptical cleats located at an angle to the border of the mat with the cleats in each row being parallel to the other cleats in the row and being substantially perpendicular to the cleats in the next adjacent rows of cleats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Milliken Research Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Murray
  • Patent number: 5157804
    Abstract: A foot mat comprises a multiplicity of elongated rail members formed by coextrusion of a substantially rigid polymeric material and a compressible polymeric material. Each rail member has a rigid tread-supporting web portion, at least two rigid leg portions, which are adapted to support the tread-supporting web portion stably on a surface, a cushion portion of the compressible material on the bottom of each leg portion, and a pair of rigid bulbous coupling portions of the substantially rigid material, one on each side of the tread-supporting web portion. Each coupling portion is substantially longitudinally coextensive with the tread-supporting web portion and extends generally laterally outwardly from the tread-supporting web portion. A tread member is received on the top of the tread-supporting web portion of the rail member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Williams
  • Patent number: 5154961
    Abstract: The automobile floor mat of the present invention is a pliable multilayer structure having an upper face layer and a base layer. The base layer has a main body section bordered by an edge section. Preferably, the main body section is relatively thin and the edge section is relatively thick. A surface of the base layer is adapted to confront automobile flooring overlaid by the mat. The edge section has a channel extending longitudinally thereof, and preferably opening from the bottom surface of the edge section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: The Akro Corporation
    Inventor: Harold Reuben
  • Patent number: 5149572
    Abstract: A floor mat for use in covering the floor of a motor vehicle comprises a corrugated layer having first and second opposing surfaces and a single face layer affixed to one of the surface of the corrugated layer so that the corrugated layer may be rolled up in a direction enclosing the face layer within the corrugated layer. At least one tear line is provided for permitting the floor mat to be split into first and second mat portions which may be separately rolled up and removed from the vehicle after use. The first and second mat portions are each adapted to underlie a separate passenger area of the motor vehicle in order to protect the floor of the vehicle from being dirtied during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: The Lawrence Paper Company
    Inventors: Joseph W. Gaggero, Michael W. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 5142733
    Abstract: A holder for a floor mat comprises at least one connecting device and at least one connecting member which has complementary connection devices whereby the connecting member may be connected in a releasable manner to at least two adjacent mat holders so as to secure the mat holders together. Preferably at least one of the holder or the connecting member are made from flexible material or are designed to be slightly flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Mogel, John Calvert
  • Patent number: 5130187
    Abstract: A floormat comprised of multiple layers the upper or outer layer of which is a carpet layer, an intermediate layer is a carpet backing layer and the lower layer is a non-slip material bonded to the intermediate layer. The non-slip material provides a high coefficient of friction to resist movement of the multilayer mat on the surface upon which it is positioned. Retention straps may be secured to the multilayer mat and the retention straps attached to some desired structure such as in an automobile as a further aid in preventing movement of the multilayer mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Inventor: Peter Eberhardt
  • Patent number: 5071628
    Abstract: A device providing a reception surface for shoe soles to be disinfected, beneath which is an element impregnated with a disinfection liquid, the complete assembly being contained in a shallow tray or reservoir which is placed on the ground or embedded in this latter. The tray or reservoir (1) contains a certain quantity of disinfection liquid (4) and above the level of this liquid is a rigid plate which bears on the bottom of the tray or reservoir, for example by means of spacer members or ribs (7). The impregnation element consists of a sheet (9) of porous material stretched over and supported by the rigid plate (5a). At least one of the edges of the sheet dips into the disinfection liquid contained in the tray or reservoir (1) and serves as a capillary wick to impregnate the sheet with disinfectant. A perforated covering element (11) covers the impregnation sheet (9) so as to constitute the receiving surface for the shoes to be disinfected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Inventor: Jean Alazet
  • Patent number: 5054253
    Abstract: A grating mat assembly is disclosed, which is of a generally rigid construction, as distinguished from an articulated, roll-up construction. Unlike conventional rigid grating mats, the structure of the present invention comprises a plurality of slot-like section joined edge to edge in a manner providing for sufficiently rigidity for manufacture, handling and installation, while eliminating the customary longitudinally extending locking bars, utilized in more conventional grating mat assemblies, which add significantly to the cost of manufacture thereof. The slot-like mat sections of the new design are of extruded construction, formed with a horizontal upper ball, widely spaced vertical end walls, and one or more intermediate vertical walls. The vertical walls support the upper wall substantially above a base surface. The opposite vertical end walls of the slot-like sections are formed with tongue and groove structures, such that a pair of adjacent section interfit to provide positive horizontal alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Pawling Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Bedics
  • Patent number: 5021277
    Abstract: An automobile mat includes an upper layer a lower layer as well as a middle layer sandwiched between the upper layer and the lower layer. The upper layer and the middle layer are respectively provided with a plurality of holes. A plurality of spacing members are provided between the middle layer and the lower layer for spacing the middle layer from the lower layer. Therefore, the sand attached to an automobile occupant's shoes can be brushed off so as to pass through the holes of the upper and middle layers and be collected in a cavity formed between the middle layer and the lower layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Inventor: Sung-Hsing Fan
  • Patent number: 5018235
    Abstract: A holder for flexible material, for example a disposable floor mat, comprises a base (4) on which the material (18) rests, at least part of the base having an integral wall (12) so arranged as to form a recess (6). The recess is dimensioned so as to receive the material in a close fit and means are provided to hold the material in place. The holding means may comprise a lip (14) integral with the wall of the holder which extends above the recess (16) and means (19) may be provided on the surface of the holder to act as a guide for the correct placement of the material (18). Additionally or alternatively the base (4) of the holder may include holding means (20,26), such as "Klettostop", which comprises a plurality of upwardly extending hooks or spikes formed from a plastic material. Means (26) may also be provided for retaining the holder (2) on a support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Paul O. Stamatiou, Christopher R. Stevens
  • Patent number: 4968548
    Abstract: A removable floor cover formed of one or more sections of a durable fabric is installed over the existing floor or carpeted areas of a recreational vehicle to protect the existing floor or carpet from dirt and wear. A plurality of strips of a fabric type hook and loop fastener are secured onto the underside of the floor cover in spaced relation positioned inwardly from and parallel to the peripheral edges of the cover and the peripheral edges outward of the fasteners are folded upward to reside against one or more walls of the area being covered. In carpeted areas, the fastener hook elements are releasably engaged with the fibers of the existing carpet when the cover is pressed thereon to maintain the cover on the carpeted area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Inventors: William E. Gibson, Sigrid Gibson
  • Patent number: 4957796
    Abstract: Foot cover for placement on the floor space of motor vehicles includes a polyurethane form part being provided with a sealing lip extending from edges and edge portions of the form part and is integral therewith; a reinforcing insert extends into and is embedded by the sealing lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Inventor: Helmut Pelzer
  • Patent number: 4952434
    Abstract: A floor mat is disclosed which provides a flexible, resilient, cushioned, tread surface and substantial foreign matter collection area. The preferred floor mat includes a plurality of elongated, flexible, resilient, spaced-apart, intercoupled rails. Each preferred rail includes a plurality of elongated, upstanding, spaced-apart cleaning structures extending upwardly from the rail top surface with a transverse wall between adjacent cleaning structures which together cooperatively define respective collection troughs. Each transverse wall includes a plurality of foreign matter removal openings and each rail includes a plurality of elongated, longitudinally disposed passageways extending substantially along the length of each rail and positioned respectively beneath a corresponding cleaning structure for cushioning impact on the cleaning structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Balco International, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger L. Rumsey, Jorge O. Andreo
  • Patent number: 4917975
    Abstract: A contamination control mat configuration and tool for removing sheets therefrom provide for more effective and efficient removal of contamination control sheets. The shape of the mat has a perimeter defining a closed plane figure having an axis extending in a direction about which the closed plane figure is substantially symmetric. The figure has at least one converging portion at an end of the closed plane figure converging toward and terminating adjacent the tab wherein the tab extends away from the figure substantially in the same direction as the axis. The tool is a roller having a rotatable roller bar supported by a bracket and handle and further including an apparatus for applying an adhesive to the roller bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Inventor: Joselito S. De Guzman
  • Patent number: 4886692
    Abstract: A cleated dust control mat having a rubber of rubber-like backing in which the longitudinal edges of the rubber-like backing projecting outward from the pile surface thereon is smooth and thicker than the body of the rubber or rubber-like backing material. The thicker edges are produced by using a perforated silicone pad which is narrower than the desired width and has beveled edges thereon to provide a curved transition therein between the body and the longitudinal edges of the backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Milliken Research Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Kerr, John H. Murray
  • Patent number: 4879151
    Abstract: This invention relates to insert strips for a floor covering structure for public walking areas such as in foyers of commercial buildings. The floor structure is made up of connected longitudinal sections, each section having a central longitudinal channel, a raised removable strip being disposed into each channel, to provide a walking surface and the strip having a relatively friction free underlying surface for an easy insertion into a channel and the same being arranged to be retained in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Reese Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Chester W. Ellingson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4876135
    Abstract: A floor mat comprising a jacket member having a throat opening in a free edge thereof for receiving an insert sheet of absorbent material. The top sheet of the jacket has openings therein for the passage of foreign matter. The insert sheet is disposed under the top sheet and retains foreign matter disposed thereon through the openings in the top sheet. The back surface of the insert is coated with a water resistant coating. After the insert sheet is soiled it can be removed and cleaned or replaced by a new sheet with the soiled sheet discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Inventor: Blair McIntosh
  • Patent number: 4849271
    Abstract: Mats for covering surfaces or for cleaning purposes, particularly doormats, which comprise a basic material, mainly of plastic with a fibrous layer and a support layer fixing the latter and fibres with a bristle-like structure applied to the basic material. The basic material is zonally melted by heating the fibres and optionally the support layer and compressed onto or into the support layer 50 as to form depressions in fibrous layer. The bristles are inserted substantially in parallel to each other in the in depressions and are joined to the compressed basic material by melting their ends or by a homogeneous weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Coronet-Werke Heinrich Schlerf GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Weihrauch
  • Patent number: 4822669
    Abstract: A mat having a top layer of nonwoven fiber suitably bonded. A water impervious film thereinunder laminated to the first layer. A bottom layer of a polyurethane foam material having excellent nonskid bottom surface at the interface of the mat and the floor. In a second embodiment there is a paper absorbent layer interposed between the top layer and the water impervious film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Robert C. Roga
  • Patent number: 4801005
    Abstract: This invention consists of a mat which is designed to absorb a maximum amount of oil, keep the oil from seeping onto floors or work areas, be laid flat on floors or work areas, be unfolded during removal from containers, and folded to be repackaged in the original container. This is accomplished by a mat structure which internally incorporates mineral based absorbents, is pleated, and which has an underside composed of a material that is oil and abrasion resistant. Furthermore, the receipt/storage package is designed to keep the oil soaked mats from fouling areas external to this package. Such isolation of oil contaminated materials from other refuse constitutes sound environmental policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Inventors: Annerose Hahn, George T. Hahn
  • Patent number: 4796399
    Abstract: An improved combination walk-off and fatigue mat constitutes an improvement over the mat of U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,059 in the provision of three additional structural features, namely tertiary ribs which prevent the upper ribs from spreading apart and catching spiked heels, pile carpet strips to better clean the bottoms of wet shoes, and separately molded clip elements to mechanically hold the fabric pile strips in place between adjacent top ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Boardman Molded Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald N. Kessler, Myron Ullman, Milton Kessler
  • Patent number: 4769895
    Abstract: A plurality of rubber-backed dust control mats are interconnected by a connecting strip which has projections thereon which engage mating projections on the outer surface of the rubber backing on the mats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Milliken Research Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Parkins
  • Patent number: 4741941
    Abstract: Nonwoven web and method of making including interbonded thermoplastic fibers in an array of hollow projections extending outwardly from at least one surface of said web. The projections are separated by land areas of interbonded fibers, and the fiber orientation is greater in the projections than in the land areas. Either the projections or the land areas may be perforated as desired for controlled porosity and fluid flow properties. The nonwoven webs of the invention may be made by a number of processes but, preferably, are made by forming directly on a surface with corresponding projections with or without apertures and a vacuum assist or by forming on an apertured surface with a pressure differential sufficient to draw the fibers through the apertures forming the projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Englebert, Ann L. Wagner, Gregory S. Hafer, Nanette J. Logsdon
  • Patent number: 4733424
    Abstract: A doormat housing comprising a swingingly retractable doormat tray seated within which is a doormat, is slidably affixed against one side of an entranceway door for use when the door is opened. In use, the doormat housing is slidingly moved to a lowered position whereat, upon the downward and outward swinging of the doormat tray, the tray with mat will seat against the floor or walking surface close to the entranceway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Inventor: David E. Gurkin
  • Patent number: 4697295
    Abstract: A floor cleaning device the use of which does not require the use of one's hands. The device is a towel-like member provided with a pair of pocket members on its top and bottom surfaces. Each of the pocket members is specifically configured and dimensioned to slideably receive therein a human foot so that one desiring to clean a floor may insert one's feet in different ones of the pockets and walk across the support surface to be cleaned after having applied a suitable cleaning solution to the support surface. The act of walking constitutes scrubbing of the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Inventor: Gail W. Garrison
  • Patent number: 4684562
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus designed to catch drippings including three sheets, one formed from an absorbent, isotropically permeable material supported by a second sheet formed from an absorbent material for absorbing drippings. These two sheets further are supported by a third sheet that is liquid-resistant, one side of which is covered by a foil material, this foil-backed sheet further preventing liquid leakage. The three sheets are bonded together by a sealing ring, tape, or adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Inventor: Robert Hartkemeyer
  • Patent number: 4663903
    Abstract: A floor covering for public areas such as foyers in public buildings, each section of the floor covering being substantially rectangular in plan of a fairly narrow width, having a flexible projecting tongue along one side thereof, said tongue extending to underlie at least a portion of said sections and having the other side thereof adapted to receive and non-rotatively retain the projected tongue of an adjacent such section whereby like sections interconnect to form a floor covering, the tongues being sufficiently flexible to permit the connected sections to be rolled up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Reese Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Chester W. Ellingson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4614679
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent structure for the removal and retention of moisture and/or particulate from a soiled object coming in contact therewith. The structure preferably comprises a macroscopically patterned, three-dimensionally expanded, shear resistant uppermost layer having an object contacting surface and a non-object contacting surface, said uppermost layer exhibiting a pattern of protuberances extending upwardly from a first plane and terminating in a second plane substantially parallel to and remote from the first plane. The uppermost layer further exhibits a multiplicity of discrete apertures in its second plane and is pervious to moisture in its first plane. A moisture absorbent substrate having its uppermost surface coextensive with the uppermost object contacting layer is secured substantially continuously to substantially all of the non-object contacting surface of the uppermost layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Theodore E. Farrington, Jr., Milton D. Spahni, Thomas Rattray
  • Patent number: 4564546
    Abstract: Improved holder specially adapted for disposable floor mats to be placed adjacent entryways to factories, industrial buildings, or the like or for use in connection with clean rooms, hospitals, laboratories. The holder includes a flat base adapted to hold the mat and at least one hingedly connected side flap adapted to fold over on top of an edge of the mat and securely retain it in position. Means are included to hold the flap against the mat in a closed position to firmly resist movement that would cause wrinkles or bunches in the mat which could cause trips or falls. In accordance with the invention, the base support includes at least one hand hole adjacent the edge of the base and located so as to be covered by the flap in the closed position. By means of the hand hole, direct pressure may be applied directly against the flap or by pressing against the mat so as to overcome the holding means and greatly facilitate opening of the flap to release the mat when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1986
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventor: W. Gregory Jones
  • Patent number: 4559250
    Abstract: A tacky mat stack employing sheets 0.4 mil to 2.5 mils thick of either high-density polyethylene or linear low-density polyethylene or low-density polyethylene, each sheet having been treated electronically on both sides, one side having about twice the dyne level of the other, and adhesive on the side having the higher dyne level. The adhesion pull load may vary from about 1/2 ounce to about 10 ounces per lineal inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Inventor: Raymond J. Paige
  • Patent number: 4497147
    Abstract: Drips-catching mats for installation in combination with a minor proportion of a floor especially a garage floor beneath a motor vehicle to capture oil drippings therefrom. The mat essentially comprises generally horizontally extending laminar elements including: a base member highly-tenaciously bonded to the underlying floor environment; an oleophilic blotter member having a lower-tenacity attached to the base member whereby an oleo-laden blotter can be manually replaced with a fresh blotter without disrupting the high-tenacity flooring bond to the base member, the lower-tenacity attachment preferably comprising an oleo-resistant laminar adhesive; and visual indicator means to indicate when blotter replacement is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Inventors: David D. Clapper, Thomas E. Talmadge
  • Patent number: 4484250
    Abstract: The invention contemplates a washable dust-collecting multi-layer electrically conductive web or mat for safely and quickly discharging personnel-accumulated static electricity. An upper continuous polymeric layer of relatively low conductivity, in the order of 10.sup.8 ohms per square and containing a tackifying resin thoroughly dispersed therein, is bonded to an underlying continuous polymeric layer of much greater conductivity, in the order of 10.sup.2 ohms per square, and provision is made for electrically grounding the underlying layer, illustratively by casting to the intermediate layer a continuous bottom layer of expanded polymeric material of relatively low conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: Pervel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray M. Rzepecki, Victor H. Weiss
  • Patent number: 4420180
    Abstract: The floor mat comprises a main portion for lying flat on an automobile floor and an upwardly inclined portion for lying on an inclined surface within the automobile, such as behind the pedals. The main portion includes a centrally disposed downwardly recessed area forming a pan having a floor and surrounding sides for catching fluid. A plurality of ridges, having a triangular cross-section, rise vertically from the floor of the pan for holding pants and the like above fluids caught in the pan. The forwardly extending portion includes ribs which extend in the longitudinal direction of the mat for channeling fluids backward into the pan. Additional ribs are formed on the forward portion which are inclined downwardly and inwardly for channeling fluid away from the edges of the mat toward the center of the mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: Creations 2000, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre' Dupont, Paul Laurent, Bernard Beaujardin
  • Patent number: 4377016
    Abstract: A shoe cleaning mat employs a plurality of spaced projections on a base layer, all projecting to substantially the same height to provide a stable support. Some of the projections are each provided with an array of radially extending ribs which are progressively deeper in the radially outward direction to provide corresponding increasing elasticity. Two different sizes of such projections are employed and a third type of projection, smaller than the other two, is provided with vertically extending side ribs which are progressively deeper in upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Vredestein N.V.
    Inventor: Anton G. A. Niermeijer
  • Patent number: 4280729
    Abstract: A floor mat having an upper and an underside, and a forward and rear end, and in which the upper side is provided with a tread portion, having a multiplicity of water flow guide-ways or channels or grooves, communicating with the rear end of the mat, and guiding water flow from the front towards the rear of the mat, and further having water collectors at the rear end of the mat, below the plane of the water guide-ways, in which water may collect, and having hinge formations by means of which it can be folded for ease of handling, when carrying water in the water collectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Inventor: Janusz Morawski
  • Patent number: 4143194
    Abstract: A disposable combination of support and mat is used for removing loose dirt from objects coming in touch with the mat. The generally flat support has an area for a mat thereon with a pair of beveled surfaces astride opposed borders of the mat area. Additionally, along at least one edge of the support is means for interlocking the mat combination with similar combinations to provide a linked mat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: Arbrook, Inc.
    Inventor: Allen Wihksne
  • Patent number: 4109439
    Abstract: A floor mat of the type comprising crossed, interlocking flexible strips which are arranged in grid-like fashion. A plurality of interchangeable design elements are inserted in the rectangular interstitial spaces between the strips at various places on the mat so as to form any desired wording, design or pattern in matching or contrasting colors. The design elements, which substantially occupy the interstitial spaces, are provided with a pair of protruding lugs which interlock with suitably positioned apertures in the strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: The Airomat Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Feasel
  • Patent number: 4107811
    Abstract: An improved tacky floor mat for removing loose particles of dirt, dust and the like coming in contact therewith from shoes, wheels, etc. The floor mat includes a stack of adhered, peelable sheets with a layer of adhesive on the upper surface of each sheet. As the adhesive ability of each sheet is diminished it is peeled from the stack to expose the next fresh sheet. To improve the peeling of the sheet a thin coating of non-adhesive material is print deposited on the adhesive layer in a corner of the upper surface of each sheet. To inform the user which corner has been treated the thin coating is generally a different color than the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1978
    Assignee: Arbrook, Inc.
    Inventor: Grant A. Imsande
  • Patent number: 4068339
    Abstract: A flexible matting for use at an entrance porch, corridor, veranda, pool-side, interior floor of automobiles, etc. This matting consists of a base on which tread bars and rows of ridges bearing piles are arranged in a definite direction with appropriate spacings between them so that the mud adhered to shoes can be removed by the piles and collected in the grooves formed between the ridges. Thus, the removal of mud from the present matting is very easy as compared with a conventional one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1978
    Assignee: Sumitomo Bakelite Company Limited
    Inventors: Kenjiro Maruyama, Tsuyoshi Miki, Yoshiyuki Nishi, Masato Takao
  • Patent number: 4029834
    Abstract: A floor mat comprises substantially rigid, elongated rails disposed generally parallel to each other in closely spaced relation. Each rail has a base portion for supporting the mat and a top portion with a tread surface such as a strip of carpet, abrasive or vinyl thereon. Cooperative ball and socket structures along opposite sides of the rails fixedly space the rails from each other but permit rotational movement of the rails relative to each other whereby the floor mat may be rolled up or adjust itself to irregular floor surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1977
    Assignee: Construction Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary F. Bartlett